In recent years, few consecrated ministers of
the Gospel have received much favorable publicity from the press.
What they have received, if any, has usually been of a
derogatory character. Nevertheless, many newspapers have taken
time and space to describe, often favorably, the healing campaigns
of William Branham. It would be too much to expect that every
newspaper would give sympathetic reports.

Often reporters who attend such meetings come with
their minds already made up, and stay only long enough to
draw up an extremely sketchy report, which they intersperse with a
worldly-wise and subtly cynical ridicule. However, it appears that
in the Branham campaigns, interest has been of such an intense nature,
that reporters have stayed in the services long enough to become at least
partially convinced of what they have seen and heard.

In a number of cases, a very generous and fair
account of the meetings has been given.Only occasionally has
a report appeared completely skeptical. In this chapter we shall give
sketches of the Branham meetings, from accounts appearing in various
newspapers of United States and Canada. The first one appearing below
was published in the Waukegan NEWS-SUN of March 14, 1949:

"During the three days Rev. Branham
has preached, scores have claimed to have been healed. Every case of
crossed eyes which was prayed for was straightened before prayer
ceased; many cripples and badly twisted bodies were straightened
and deaf people were able to hear.

"At last night's service, a young boy paralyzed
in arms, legs and back, twisted out of shape was brought by his
mother from Bensenville, Illinois, and was prayed for. Immediately
after prayer, he walked straight and steadily from the platform
without aid.

"Two women, who had been entirely blind with
cataracts for two years, were healed at the same service. After
being led to the platform then prayed for, the first was able to see and
walk - and as her husband said, 'Even those bloodshot veins in her eyes
were cleared up.'"

The same reporter, Fannie Wilson, writing in
the Community News, a paper representing several cities north of
Chicago, of date-line March 24, 1949, said:

"The main difference between Rev.
William Branham and most everyone else is: to them the Bible is
ancient history; to him it is just as vital and positive a force now as in
the days of Jesus of Nazareth. What makes the story different is that
Rev. William Branham proceeds to prove his contention.

"Not that he contends. Far from it. Rev.
Branham is more humble than all the humble men you have ever seen put
together. (Can you imagine a white man, born in Kentucky, lifting a
little cross - eyed negro child from Market Street, Waukegan, in his
arms and saying, 'Daughter, be healed in the Name of Jesus Christ'?)
And her eyes had become straight, even as many others had, during this
service of healing and revival meetings held in the Grace
Missionary Church. Among those prayed for Monday night was a prominent
Waukegan physician.

"During the Monday night service alone, nine
people were healed after being born deaf and dumb. Most of these were
born in this community or were known here previous to their healing.
One of these deaf-mutes was healed of blindness also. All became able
to speak, although the sounds were similar in tonal quality to those of a
child. They also seemed surprised to hear their own voices.

"One man who had come from Iowa had a cancer
on his leg from the knee to the ankle, which disappeared
immediately after prayer. In last night's meeting children with
paralysis, spastics and those suffering from mental deficiency
recovered after prayer.

"Many important and respected people of Lake
County heard and saw Brother Branham "diagnose" numerous
diseases. Most of all, the individual for whom he was to pray saw
the effect of the disease created on the minister's left hand,
until the illness was stopped after his prayer.

"The audience was reminded many times by
the speaker that he himself did not have the power to perform these
healings, but that they were 'acts of God' through the faith of
the individual prayed for."

THE ALBERTAN

CALGARY, CANADA

August 21, 1947

"Apanorama of human emotions
was unveiled by some 3000 citizens who packed Victoria Pavilion
Wednesday night to witness or receive help from William Branham of
Jeffersonville, Indiana, in his faith healing campaign.

"The U.S. minister's reputation of having
helped to heal over 35,000 people of blindness, lameness, cancer, polio,
T.B., and other sicknesses since he was imparted the 'gift of
Divine healing' about a year ago attracted men, women and children of
every walk of life.

"One of the first in the prayer line was a
Mr. Andre of Edmonton, who said he was suffering from 'a protusion of
the disc in the spine.' He claimed to have been to scores of doctors
in Western Canada, and also to the Mayo Brothers at Rochester. They said
an operation of the spine was necessary, he stated.

"Then Andre, who told the ALBERTAN he
could not remember when he was last able to touch his toes without
bending at the knees, was approached by 'the divine healer.'

"Taking Andre's right hand in his left hand,
Branham described the man's ailment, and after prayer, told him
to bend over and touch his toes. Andre did so, without
bending his knees. A gasp went up from the huge throng, and with a rush
of voices, the crowd gave vent to their combined surprise and
admiration.

"The Edmonton man, wracked with emotion,
breathed a simple thanks to the minister before rushing to the
microphone to tell the audience how doctors had told him an operation
would be
necessary for his back.

"The minister claimed to have a mysterious
vibration in his left hand by which he was able to distinguish cancer,
T.B., and other germs."

THE SASKATOON STAR-PHOENIX

CANADA

August 2, 1947

"Miss M-- B-- who spent ten years
in school for the deaf here and in Winnepeg, said, 'Daddy' and
'Mamma' quite clearly after she had been prayed for by Rev. William
Branham, in the Apostolic Church Wednesday evening where 800 persons
had gathered to witness 'healing through faith.'

"Miss B--, interviewed by the STAR-PHOENIX
Friday, said that she could hear quite well with her right ear but the
left ear was still deaf. She believed that she would be able to speak
normally within a short time. Her landlady said that she had been saying
'Good-morning' and 'Good-bye,' something she had not done in the three
months she had been staying with her.

"While the congregation sat still with bowed
beads, the hundred people to be cured filed past Mr. Branham as he prayed
for them each in turn. The congregation was told that entire belief
and reverence were necessary, and all must bow their heads. Those
who did not were asked to leave the church.

NOTE: Bro. Branham, in some, but not all services
requested that people bow their heads because in the realm of sickness he
was dealing with evil spirits. Bowing their heads in faith and reverence
was to prevent the evil spirit from coming back to them once it was cast
out of the one being prayed for. There have been cases where evil spirits
were cast out on the platform, only to go into the congregation on someone
else. - Web site editor.

"Prior to Mr. Branham's arrival, the
congregation heard from other speakers who told of the marvelous work
already being done through faith. One woman testified that she
had been prayed for and the following morning her one deaf ear was again
normal, and several other minor ailments had vanished. One of the
speakers mentioned a woman from Regina, who had been able to bear
only a liquid diet for months, but the morning following prayer for her,
she arose and enjoyed a normal breakfast."

THE JEFFERSONVILLE POST

Jeffersonville, Indiana

(BRANHAM'S HOME TOWN)

November 3, 1949

"A crowd Sunday night that vied with
the annual game between the Jeffersonville Red Devils and the New
Albany Bulldogs attended the Branham Tabernacle at Eighth and Penn
Streets, overflowed and stood in the rain to hear via loud
speakers,
divine moving manifestations of the Rev. William Branham, whose
healing miracles are known internationally.

"From authentic sources comes the report of
the healing of two cancer patients, who were told of a deathly
sickness and recovery within ninety days; a person told to walk who had
been confined to a wheel chair for eighteen years; of another
carried to the church on an ambulance stretcher; of the deaf made to
hear, all by a man who heals by the laying on of his right hand in
the name of his Divine Maker.

"According to many, the day of miracles has
not yet passed - even in Jeffersonville.

"From a struggling young man, who worked on a job
during the day, and proclaimed the gospel on Sunday, his own faith was
such to surmount all obstacles. He still suffers ridicule in some
instances in his home town, from scoffers, who should do him
honor as one chosen by the Supreme Being to carry on His work.

"Although not educated, as education is
considered today, he has the ability and earnest fervor necessary
in the presentation of the gospel. His Divine healing power today is
known internationally. From Jeffersonville he will travel to
Louisiana, Houston, Texas, possibly Jamaica, and then overseas."

Many other newspapers, including the CHICAGO
DAILY TIMES, the CHICAGO DAILY NEWS, the ST. LOUIS
STAR-TIMES, the ST. LOUIS POST-
DISPATCH, carried interesting and even lengthy reports of
the Branham meetings, the latter paper giving almost a full page.
Not all of these reports were written as endorsements of the
campaigns. Yet most of them at least were not hostile, and some,
as far as newspapers go, were favorably impressed. In most cases,
where the reporter had opportunity to actually witness the
demonstration of cases healed, he was convinced that there was a
supernatural power being manifest in the meetings.

THE EVENING SUN

Jonesboro, Arkansas

Reporter: Eugene Smith

June 12, 1947

"Although Rev. Branham claims to have
received the gift some 11 months ago, he said in the interview that it
was the first time he had ever had the opportunity to tell his story
directly to the reporters. 'My daily services take up so much of my
time that the church managers have asked me to refuse interviews
with newspapers. They always have said, "You have so many seeking aid
through your prayers; to publicize your presence through the papers
would only add to the overcrowded prayer lines," they explained.'

"A visit to the Bible Hour Tabernacle on East
Matthews will bear out his statement that his claims need no
publicity. Last week the prayer lines, in which he prayed
individually with the sick, paralyzed, deaf, dumb and blind,
were held twice daily. This week three services are held each day. And
he will never be able to get through the long list before the
meeting closes Monday.

"People are pouring into town daily to beg for
'just one minute with Rev. Branham.' One day this week a bus
loaded with 45 persons from Fulton, Kentucky, was present. The
same day a chartered plane brought in a 34-year-old ex-GI, swollen
horribly from cancer, which was sapping his life. Wednesday, Rev. Branham
flew to El Dorado on a whirlwind trip to pray for a person who
was reported near death.

"Residents of at least 25 states and
Mexico have visited Jonesboro since Rev. Branham opened the camp
meeting June 1. They represent states from California to New Jersey,
Michigan and Wisconsin to Florida, Wyoming to Texas and on down to
Mexico, the SUN reporter was told. The tremendous turnouts have
overflowed local tourist courts and many private homes nightly, also
a special dormitory has been set up in the rear of the church.

"Rev. Branham says, 'I am just a man. I
have no power of healing. Jesus Christ is the only one that can heal.
I pray to Him to heal those that believe. No one can be healed who
does not have faith in Jesus Christ,' he explained.

"Detecting the type of ailment of those coming
to him is another power claimed by Rev. Branham. 'When they put
their hand in my left band, I receive vibrations caused by the germs in
the person. I can usually tell what the disease is. When the disease
leaves the person, the vibrations stop,' he stated. When Rev.
Branham completes a prayer for a person, he usually finishes by saying,
'I adjure thee by Jesus Christ, leave this person.'

"Rev. Branham began a rigorous schedule last
summer in St. Louis. He came to Jonesboro next, visited Pine Bluff and
Camden, then went to Houston and on to the West Coast. He will fly to
California next week to administer to an Armenian.

"Since his October visit, Rev. Branham has
shown the effects of the daily routine. He has lost 25 pounds
and his eyes are very hollow and deep set. 'I have to keep my
place of residence a secret in order to get any sleep at all,' he said
smiling.

"The total attendance for the services during
the two-weeks period is likely to surpass the 20,000 mark by Sunday,
church officials state. For two days this SUN representative
attended the afternoon services and spent a morning listening to Rev.
Branham's story. Milling through the masses, talking to numerous people
from widely scattered areas, not one skeptic was encountered.
Many told stories that hardly seemed possible.

"For instance, M. N. Funk, a shoe builder
from Seymour, Missouri, said he had not walked for five years and
five months until he attended a service conducted by Rev. Branham at
Camden, January 21. 'I lay in a hospital for nine months after
falling
and injuring my spine, while doing some carpentry work. Doctors told me
that I would never walk again, and for five years and five months I
didn't. I know its hard to believe, but Brother Branham prayed for me
and I got up and walked immediately. And I can walk just as good
as you or anybody else today,' he said.

"C. C. Shepherd, pastor of the Pentecostal
Church of St. Charles near De Witt, showed to the assembly Monday
afternoon, a calloused wad of skin-like substance which he said was a
cancer which had plagued him for 14 years. He was prayed for by Rev.
Branham on Tuesday last week. He said the cancer on his neck, the
result of a razor cut, was red when he went on the platform, but
immediately began to turn dark. 'It just got black, dried up and came
out,' he said. He had a deep pit in his neck where the growth had
been.

"Mrs. Hattie Waldrop, who said her husband owned
a plumbing shop at 2851 North 16, Phoenix, Arizona, came all the way
to Jonesboro to testify that Rev. Branham had brought her back from
the dead. 'My pulse had stopped completely. I was suffering from
cancer of the colon, heart and liver trouble with no hope of
getting well, when Brother Branham prayed for me on March 4. Today I
am well and healthy,' she told the reporters."

(Bro. Gordon Lindsay has talked personally with this
Mrs. Waldrop and her husband and confirmed her testimony to be the truth.)